Building Local Expertise

Local agencies must be equipped with the appropriate training and tools in order to develop programs to serve the needs of children who are blind with additional disabilities.  Similarly, teachers, regardless of their education field, require on-going training and support in order to access the best practices and teaching strategies, support services and technology. 

To expand local and regional expertise, Perkins develops training programs for teachers and staff members internationally.  Our specialization in the field of education for children who are blind with additional impairments enables us to provide extensive resources to local institutions and partner with them in creating appropriate programs for their communities. 

A group photo from the Model School for the Deaf, Ghana

A testimony to the success of our partnerships is that we have prepared local trainers who have the expertise and capability to extend training in their regions.  For example, in Latin America, 95 percent of our training activities are carried out by local professionals.  These trainers are a significant resource in their region.  They lead trainings in the local language and are available to provide ongoing support to new trainers.  There are many such trainers in each region where we work.

Regional meetings and conferences are central aspects to advancing professionalism in the field.  They enable teachers, administrators and parents to network, exchange expertise and collaborate locally and regionally.  Perkins sponsors conferences, symposiums and seminars at the local, national and regional level.

Leadership Development

Local leadership is invaluable to the long-term success and growth of programs.  Perkins provides instruction to trainers and prepares them to establish themselves as a resource in their region.  Their leadership multiplies the numbers of teachers, parents, administrators and students reached through Perkins' programs and advances sustainable societal change. 

Two programs are central in preparing leaders internationally, our Educational Leadership Program (ELP) and the Institutional Development Program (IDP).

Educational Leadership Program
The Educational Leadership Program provides advanced training and leadership development to promising international educators serving children who are blind, deafblind or visually impaired with additional disabilities.  Over 200 individuals have completed this program and are now qualified trainers in their regions. 

Institutional Development Program
The Institutional Development Program (IDP) is co-sponsored by Sight Savers International and Perkins International.  It is led by blind and partially sighted individuals.  The IDP focuses on building and strengthening organizations of and for the blind primarily within Africa.  The IDP has provided training to over 190 leaders from Africa and the Caribbean who manage programs benefiting nearly 17,000 people who are blind. 

Developing University Training Programs

A boy with low vision uses a magnifying glass to participate in a class activity, Arthur Blaxall School, South Africa

When we began our international work, it soon became apparent that it would be necessary to formalize university programs for teachers of students who are blind or blind with additional impairments. Professional academic programs provide an opportunity for professionals to study locally and in their language. These programs provide instruction to teachers and trainers, who will extend their expertise in the field. The presence of university programs brings visibility to the field of education for children who are deafblind and multiply impaired. This visibility often results in governmental acceptance and support for programs for children and licensure of programs. 

Perkins has successfully worked with 17 universities worldwide to develop formal university programs, either by assisting them to create new programs for teachers or by infusing fundamental coursework into existing teacher preparation programs in blindness. Eight are full programs that offer a degree in the education of deafblind and multiply impaired children. The other partnerships have classes and coursework embedded into special education programs. Approximately 400 people graduate from these programs each year. 

We are affiliated with four programs in Latin America, six in Central and Eastern Europe, five in Asia, and one in the Caribbean.  This includes:

Of the 13,400 professionals that we have trained, 3,000 completed their university degrees through these programs.   

Download a brochure to learn more about our work in China (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).